THE RUGBY Union Players Association (RUPA) has launched an investigation into the sacking of Australia winger Lote Tuqiri after his team-mates expressed concern about the case.

Leading players, including Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock, wanted the case to be investigated after the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) refused to disclose their reasons for sacking Tuqiri, RUPA’s chief executive Tony Dempsey said.

“I have spoken to the captain of the Wallabies, and many from the Wallaby team, and they have genuine concerns about the matter in which Lote’s sacking has been handled by the ARU and NSWRU (New South Wales Rugby Union),” Dempsey said yesterday.

“Players are uncertain where they’re standing and we need to create that certainty. We need to create some clarity around what constitutes a termination of a contract and what doesn’t.”

Tuqiri was one of Australia’s most experienced and highest-paid players until his contract was torn up last week for undisclosed reasons.

He has instructed his lawyers to begin legal action against the ARU.

Dempsey said the players had lost faith in the ARU and that the association was investigating whether Tuqiris sacking was a breach of the collective bargaining agreement between RUPA and the ARU.